Sound and picture system with manual and electrical advance of the film in response to a film deformation



Oct. 17, 1950 M. c. SUPITILOV 2,526,516

souND AND PICTURE SYSTEM wxm MANUAL AND ELECTRICAL ADVANCE OF THE FILM IN RESPONSE TO A FILM DEFORMATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1947 INVENTOR. MICHAEL C.UP/T/L0l BY QM f tUZM FIG. 1

SUPITILOV 2,526,516

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BY a A TTOR/Yf Y.

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Patented Oct. 17, 195

SOUND AND PICTURE SYSTEM WITH MAN- UAL AND ELECTRICAL ADVANCE OF THE FILM IN RESPONSE TO A FILM DEFORMA- TION Michael C. Supitilov, St. Charles, 111., assignor to Operadio Manufacturing 00., St. Charles, 111., a corporation of Illinois,

' Application June 6, 1947, Serial No. 752,954

' (c1. ss -2s) 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an electrical apparatus for synchronizing intermittent picture projection and sound records. In sales promotion and service work, as well as in the field of general education, it is desirable to provide speech and musical accompaniment for intermittent and irregular film projection. As a rule, disc records or magnetic wire records may be used. Since the duration of projection of one film frame may differ from another film frame,

it is difficult to synchronize the projection of a particular frame with a particular portion of a sound recording.

Numerous attempts have been made to synchronize a sound record and frame Where the film is to be projected at irregular intervals. Such attempts have relied upon various principles and devices. Thus, certain signals, generally beyond audible range have been provided on the sound record, such signals being adapted to trigger a frame advancing means for projecting a new film frame. In other systems, complicated mechanical systems have been relied upon to accomplish the same object.

Prior art systems suffer from being complicated, expensive and being commercially impractical for extended use. Thus, a desirable objective in such Synchronizing systems is to.

change the picture film and sound record as little as possible from the present condition. Picture films must be maintained in such a condition that prints may be made therefrom with conventional apparatus and without undue expense. The same considerations apply to a sound record.

In accordance with the invention herein, a system is provided which is simple, relatively inexpensive and makes possible wide use and distribution of synchronizing systems. A system embodying the present invention requires only the presence of picture film and sound record and does not rely upon the use of any separate auxiliary record. The film to be projected may be standard and, while altered, can be reproduced in such altered form without additional expense. The sound record itself may be handled as an ordinary sound record irrespective of its use for synchronization with a picture film.

Thus, conventional discs or magnetized Wire or.

tape may be utilized without any change in such 50 cation on the sound record may be omitted as a record. discrete element and reliance had upon the sim-" In general, the invention contemplates providple fact that the sound record is started at its ing a standard projector with means for adbeginning. Thus, a disc record maybe started vancing a picture frame in response to a con- M from any angular position without serious mistrol means. This control means may be auto- --'matic or manual, in which case an operato is necessary. The control means cooperates with deformations on a control track on the film and is located at a distance from the projector gate along the path of film travel but in proximity to some means for moving film continuously.

This continuously moved film part is hereinafter designated as a synchronized part of the film. Synchronized with the continuously moving part of the film is a sound record and moving means therefor forming part of the sound reproducing system and moving during sound reproductionf The projected part of the film, which is at the projector gate, and the synchronized part of the film constitute two separate parts of the film at any one instant of time. The same physical length of the film may be a synchronized part of the film at one instant and may be a projected part of the film at anotherinstant.

The film carryin both picture frames and control track will have definite length. Part of this length will be taken by picture frames. A different and, preferably though not necessarily, overlapping part of this length will be taken by film deformations in the control track deformations along the control track will be separated along the film length by a distance corresponding to the time which the sound reproducer requires to dispose of the corresponding projected frame. Thus, adjacent control deformations will be spaced in direct proportion to the projection time for the corresponding frames. The film, therefore, carries control deformations at one part of the film length for determining the projection time of a frame at another part of the film length.

The film has a starting deformation in the control track and. a starting frame for projec tion, while the sound record may have some starting indication so that the system may begin operating in proper timed relation. The starting deformation may differ from the remaining control deformations and may even consist of the physical end of the film. The starting inditiming providing that the pick-up engages at the start the outermost groove, Manual means are provided to introduce variations in timing, if that is desired, this manual means being operated even during automatic operation of the system.

Control track deformations may assume any one of a number of forms and may be physical, photographic or molecular. Physical deformations may be in the form of apertures or notches, while photographic deformations maybe light or dark spots against a dark or light controltrack background. Molecular deformations may reside in the magnetized condition of certain portions of a control track.

Each time a deformed portion of the control track passes a certain portion of the control means, means are provided for either automatically or manually advancing a projected frame. Since the synchronized portion of the film travels in timed relation with the record, the intermittently traveling portion of the film at the projector gate will create a variable amount of slack in the film. The amount of slack will depend upon the number of frames projected and the irregularity in frame projection time as compared to record travel.

Any type of record may be used. In addition to disc or magnetic wire records or tape records, it is possible to use a separate sound on film record. Since the control part of the film and sound record remain in synchronism, it is immaterial whether the record moves uniformly or at variable speeds. However, most reproducing systems operating with a sound record provide for uniform movement of the record.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a system embodying the invention, part thereof being in perspective and part being in diagrammatic form with the control in automatic position. Figure 2 is a sectional detail on line 22 of Figure l but with the control in manual position. Figure 3 shows a plan view of a film strip for use with the system of Figure 1. Figure 4 shows a modified system, partly in elevation and partly diagrammatic. Figure 5 is a sectional detail on line 55 of the system of Figure 4. Figure 6 shows a strip of film with a control track for use with the system of Figure 4.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, I indicates part of a projector of any conventional construction. Projector II! has gate II at which a frame of film I2 is disposed for projection. Gate II may have any desired construction and may be of the type that is hinged to permit ready insertion of film as described and claimed in Patent 2,438,710, granted March 30, 1948. The particular frame of film I2 which is at gate II for projection may be considered as a projected frame and the part of the film at gate II will, therefore, be considered as the projected part of the film.

Adjacent gate II is a suitable means for moving film I2 past the gate. This means comprises sprockets I4 and I secured on shaft I6. Shaft I6 carries square block I8 cooperating with leaf spring I9 carried by pin 20 on the projector frame. Leaf spring I9 cooperates with the edge of square block I8 and constitutes a simple means for indexing the sprocket drive to any of four stable positions. Sprockets I4 and I5 cooperate with sprocket holes 2I and 22 in film I2. As a rule, reliance may be had upon the regularity of picture frames in the film for proper framing action at the gate. It is only necessary to insure an initial framing of the film and engagement of the sprockets. If desired, square block I8 may be adjustable around shaft I6 as by a set screw so that a change of orientation of the square block with respect to the sprockets may be secured.

Shaft I3 carries driving ratchet 24 at its end. Ratchet 24 is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth 25, here shown as four in number. By proper choice of sprockets, it is possible to provide for movement of the film of one frame upon ninety degree rotation of the sprockets. In this particular instance, therefore, ratchet 24 is provided with four teeth, each having a ninety degree angular extent and each tooth adapted to move the film through one frame.

Rotatable plate 21 is carried on shaft I5 and has pivotally secured thereto, as at 28, pawl 30. Pawl 33 is biased by spring 3I so that the pawl presses against ratchet 24. As is evident from Figure 1, ratchet 24 must be rotated in a clockwise direction for advancing the film down,- wardly past the gate. Rotatable plate 21 itself is biased to a predetermined position by coil spring 32 extending between the plate and the projector frame. In order to actuate ratchet 24, plate 27 is adapted to be rocked. Thus, plate 2? has cable 33 connecting it to plunger 34 of solenoid 35. Upon energization of solenoid 35, plunger 34 is pulled inwardly to rock plate 21 in a clockwise direction. When rocked in this manner, pawl 39 engages a ratchet tooth and turns ratchet 24 in a clockwise direction. It is only necessary for plate 21 to be rocked slightly more than forty-five degrees from a stable position whereupon leaf spring I9 will index the sprocket system to a succeeding stable position.

If desired, pawl 30 may be manually released and ratchet 24 may thereupon be manually adjusted to any desired position.

Solenoid 35 is connected by wires 36 and 3! to a suitable source of power 38. Power source 38 includes an amplifier which may be controlled in any suitable fashion, such as by a photoelectric cell or by manual means. The combination of amplifier and power source is quite common in industry, and one form is illustrated on pages I 83 to I86 in Industrial Electronic Control by Cockrell, published by McGraw-Hill Book Company in 1944, first edition. Thus, amplifier and power source 38 may be suitably energized from line wires 39 and has input wires 40 and 4I. Wire 40 has connected therein switch 42. Wire II and wire 43, on the other side of switch 42, continue to photoelectric cell 45. Photoelectric cell 45 may be any one of a number of well-known cells on the market. As used herein, the photoelectric cell need only respond to two extreme conditions of light and darkness. It is, therefore, possible to use a gas type of cell having substantial emission for light. It is understood that cell 45 and its connections to amplifier and power source 38 together constitute a photoelectric control system, such as disclosed in the previously identified reference as an example.

Photoelectric cell 45 is carried in housing 46. Housing 46 has wall 4! forming the top thereof, this wall being apertured at 48 to provide a gate. Above wall 47 is lamp 49 in housing 50 having bottom wall 5] apertured at 52. Aperture 52 is in line with aperture 48 of housing 46 so that light from lamp 49 may pass through apertures 52 and 48 into housing 46.

Housing 46 has jewel 53 in a side wall thereof. Pivotally secured at 54 within housing 46 is handle 55 carrying mirror 56. Handle 55 extends through slot 51 in the housing wall to the outside-of the housing so that it, may be moved by an operator between two extrem positions. i

Mirror 56 is tilted to refiect light from lamp 49 I on jewel 53. It is, or" course, possibl to dispose the mirror mid-way between the two extreme positions so that some light is reflected to jewel 53 and some light will be available to operate cell 45. In this intermediate position, the system will work automatically but will give visual indications.

Film strip 12 is adapted to be moved between opposed housing walls 51 and 47. This filmmoving means is a second means for moving film and is spaced along the path of film travel from sprockets l4 and I5. This second means consists of sprockets 60 and El on shaft 62. Shaft 62 is connected through clutch 63 to flexible shaft 64. Clutch 63 may have any desired construction and may consist simply of two friction discs spring pressed together. Shaft 62 has knob 65 extending on the outside of housing 46. be turned to adjust the film. If rotary adjustment of shaft 62 with respect to flexible shaft 64 is desired, this may be obtained by slipping the clutch. In practice, clutch 63 will yield in case film [2 becomes locked,

Flexible shaft 64 is connected to gear 66 driven in timed relation to turntable 67. As shown in Figure 1, gear 66 meshes with pinion 69 on the turntable shaft, this being driven b motor 1. Inasmuch as constant speed motors with reducing gears for driving phonograph turntables are well known, a detailed description thereof is not necessary. Resting on turntable 61 is disc record ll with which tone arm 12 may cooperate. Tone arm 12, having the usual stylus and pickup, feeds its output to audio frequency amplifier 13 and thence to speaker 14. Disc ll may be a conventional record and has a starting indication, such as arrow 76, thereon. It is understood that the starting position is that position at which the stylus of tone arm 72 is disposed at the outermost groove of the disc record. Starting arrow I6 may be conveniently on the paper label usually carried at the record center. It may, however, be any suitable indication on the record edge. Motor 10 may be energized from any suitable source of power, generally the 60 cycle, 110 volt line as indicated by numeral H and may have one switch 18 for controlling the operation thereof. Since one turn of record ll does not correspond to a long time interval for the purposes at hand, the starting indicia may be omitted.

The light source and photoelectric cell or jewel may be considered as a control means disposed in proximity to synchronized film driving means comprising sprockets 63 and 61. The housings, and particularl apertured portions 52 and 48, are so disposed with relation to sprockets 59 and BI as to cooperate with control track 81 of film l2. In the system shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, control track 8| is disposed on one side of the film in proximity to one series of sprocket apertures with the control track being provided with transparent spaces 82 against an opaque control track background. Each transparent Knob 65 may space is large enough so that light from lamp 45 may pass through for energizing either the cell or the jewel. For automatic operation, light from lamp 49, passing through one space 82, will impinge on cell 45 to energize solenoid 35 and advance the film one frame. It is preferred to have amplifier and power source 38 so arranged that solenoid 35 will be operated only once for one transparent spot 82 irrespective of how lon it remains in position between apertures 52 and 48. It is understood that spots 82 and control track 8| may be reversed so that the control track is transparent and the deformations are opaque.

Film l2 itself generally has a length of the order of about five to twenty feet. As shown in Figure 3, film l2 will have film deformations 82 along part of the length and will have picture frames along a different part of the length. These two lengths preferably, though not necessarily, overlap in order that film may be conserved. It is evident from Figure 1 that the synchronized part of film I2 is further along the film path in the direction of film travel than gate H and may be considered as being in advance thereof along the film path. It follows, therefore, that film I2 for this system will have the effective part of control track 8i displaced toward the beginning of the film as compared to the picture frames.

Thus, as shown in Figure 3, the effective beginning of film 12 may be indicated by starting arrow 85. This arrow may be on any portion of the film and, as shown in Figure 3, is relatively large and extends across the entire film. Corresponding to starting arrow 85 is starting frame 85. When beginning a projection sequence, film i2 is disposed in a projector as shown in Figure 1 with starting arrow 85 aligned with any portion of the machine as arrowhead 8'! on housing 45. Similarly, starting frame 86 is disposed in gate 1 I so that this frame is projected. This starting frame may have any suitable matter thereon, such as the word start for example, for fecussing. At the same time, disc record II is disposed so that tone arm 12 is at the outermost groove and opposite starting arrow 76 if that is provided. Thereupon, the system is started by energizing motor 10.

As disc ll turns, synchronized part of film [2 at sprockets 6i! and 61 will move in synchronism. The ratio of travel between the film and stylus on the disc may be selected to suit operating conditions. Thus, the linear distance traveled by the stylus of tone arm 12 throughout the entire extent of the sound track on disc Il may be arithmeticall compared to the linear distance along the entire length of film l2. Thereafter, a simple proportion will determine the relative rate of feed of record and film.

As the synchronized portion of film progresses between the housings, each control deformation 82 will be effective to advance the projected part of the film one frame at gate I I. For automatic control, switch 42 will be closed in the solid line position and arm 55 will be adjusted to the position shown in Figure 1, namely to permit light from lamp 49 to affect photoelectric cell 45.

For manual control, arm 55 will be moved to the manual position so that mirror 56 will intersect light and refiect the same to jewel 53. At the same time, switch 42 will be moved to the position where it may cooperate with contact 41a onwire 4|. Thus, each time jewel 53 flashes, the

operator may close manual switch 42 against.

contact lid and energize the film advance. It is also possible to advance the film manually by moving plate 21 by hand.

It will be evident that film I 2 will have a variable amount of slack 912 between the projected part of the film at gate II and the synchronized part of the film at sprockets 60 and GI. This slack will vary from a minimum to a maximum, each of which may be predetermined, and will depend upon the sequence of picture projection and sound reproduction, amount Of overlap, if any, of film length for picture frames and film length for control track.

As shown in Figure 1, the synchronized portion of the film is disposed in advance of film gate I I along the path of film travel. Furthermore, this system has synchronization between the film drive and record drive by mechanical coupling as by fiexible shaft. In Figure i, a modified system is shown wherein the synchronization is effected electrically.

Referring therefore to Figure 4, projector II! has gate II through which film I2 passes. Suitable means for advancing film I2 a frame at a time at gate i I may be provided. This means may comprise a manually controlled sprocket drive such as used in conventional projectors.

Disposed rearwardly of gate I I in the direction of film travel is a means for moving a synchronized part of the film. Thi means comprises sprockets 65" and 6! on shaft 62 driven by motor I00. Motor I89 is connected by lines IIII and I02 and control switch I93 to lines I04 and I comprising 60 cycle power mains as supplied by any public utility. Motor IUQ is of the type maintaining a constant speed and may, for example, be a synchronous motor having suitable phase splitting means for providing two phase, 60 cycles, from the lines. Motor I60 may also be an induction type motor, which motor will generally run at a sufficiently constant speed for synchronizing purposes.

Phonograph motor I8! driving turntable IDS is connected through wires I99 and I II] to 60 cycle line wires III and H2. Switch H3 is provided for controlling the motor circuit. Line wires I I I and I I2 may be in the same power system as line wires I04 and N or may be in a different power system remote therefrom. Inasmuch as the frequency at generating stations is maintained within close limits, this being generally good to within one part in one thousand, motor III! will be synchronized with motor I00. It is understood that motor m is of the type which will run at a constant speed and may either be a synchronous motor having suitable phase-splitting means or an induction type motor of adequate power. Turntable I08 carries a suitable record thereon and has tone arm I I5 cooperating therewith. Tone arm II5 supplies audio frequency energy to H6 which may be a simple amplifier or a combined. amplifier and transmitter. The transmitter may either be of the wire or wireless type and cooperates with receiver II'I feeding speaker I I8.

It is understood that, instead of disc records, magnetizable wire or tape may be used. Inasmuch as such reproducing systems are well known and are considered to be fully equivalent to disc reproducing systems, a detailed description thereof and illustration is believed to be unnecessary.

Adjacent the synchronized film driving means comprising 65' and 5! is control means I20. This control means in general may be similar to the control means shown in Figure 1 or may consist simply of housings I2I and I22 between which film I2 travels. The two housings have aligned apertures with housing IZI containing light source I23. Housing I22 has jewel I25 optically connected to the aperture "for the housing by means of light guide I26. This light guide may consist of a material, such as polystyrene, sold as lucite, having internal reflecting properties. Quartz may also be used. Thus, light entering the aperture in the top Wall of the housing will be conducted along the rod I26 to jewel I25. This system provides for manual control only and, upon flashing at jewel I25, will signal an operator to advance the film at the film gate. It is understood that, if the control deformations are dark and the control track is generally transparent, then a darkening at jewel I25 will be the signal for advancing the film a frame.

It will be evident that, in the system shown in Figure 4, starting frame 86 corresponding to frame 88 in Figure 3 will be nearer the beginning of the film than starting indication As shown in Figure 6, starting indication 85 consists simply of an arrowhead in the sprocket track remote from control track 3!. In Figure 6, the effective frames of the film useful for projection will, therefore, extend from or near the beginning of the film back toward the end for some distance. The effective control track portion of the film will extend from or near the end of the film toward the beginning of the film for some distance, the two lengths overlapping if necessary to conserve film. It is understood that the effective control track is that length upon which all deformations are disposed. As shown in Figures 3' and 6, the effective length of control track includes the length of track between starting deformation 85 or 85 and the first control track deformation proper. Starting deformation 85 or 85' may or may not extend into control track SI or 8! and, since this starting deformation is manually aligned at the beginning with some fixed indication, it is unimportant as to the nature or extent of this starting indication.

Instead of light or dark spots for film deformations, apertures may be punched through film or notches may be out along the side of the film. Suitable contact fingers may be used for cooperation.

It is also possible to provide a control track consisting of iron dust suitably attached to the film and locally magnetizable for control purposes. Suitable pick-up means responsive to the magnetization may be provided, and this pickup means control a signal for an operator or control the automatic film advance at the gate.

What is claimed is:

In a combined sound reproducing and picture projecting system, the combination of a projector having a film gate at which a projected part of film is disposed, means for advancing said film at said gate, sound record moving means, means operating in timed relation to said sound record moving means for advancing a synchronized part of film at a region spaced from said gate along the path of film travel, said film having picture frames and a control track with film deformations along said control track, a source oflight adapted to cooperate with the portion of the control track adjacent to the synchronized film part advancing means, a photo-electric cell, a jewel, a manual control for directing said light sothat said cell is affected in one position of said manual control and said jewel is energized 9 10 in another position of said manual control, means UNITED STATES PATENTS controlled by the photoelectric cell for advancing Number Name Date the film at said gate one frame in response to 1 859 665 Golden et al May 24 1932 a film deformation and manual means for ad- 1987544 Wood et a1 Jan 1935 vancing the film a frame at said gate when said 5 1993'889 Wier 1935 manual control is in its other position. 2346905 g} n A pr. 18, 1944 MICHAEL SUPITILOV- 2,372,471 Campbell Mar. 27, 1945 REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS The following references are of record in the 10 Number n y Date file of this patent: 858,233 France May 6, 1940 

